Cable terminal



Aug. 28, 1934. A H O 1,971,706

CABLE TERMINAL Filed March 16, 1953 Patented Aug. 28, 1934 PATENT OFFICE UNITED STATES 2 Claims. (Cl. 173-259) This invention relates to a cable terminal, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind constructed and assembled in a manner whereby the same may be -l readily and quickly clamped to a battery post to eifect a desired connection therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind constructed in a manner whereby it may be readily applied or removed with respect to a battery post or the like and which eliminates the general practice of hammering a terminal on a battery post.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a terminal of this kind comprising two reill atively movable clamping members together with means for effectually engaging said members with a battery post or the like, said means being of a character to allow for adjustment to compensate for posts of varying diameters or which 10 have been reduced from their longitudinal diameter as a result of corrosion.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved cable ll terminal whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing. wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in top plan illustrating a battery terminal constructed in accordance with anembodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the structure as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in plan illustrating a terminal constructed in accordance with a slightly modified arrangement;

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the outer end portion of the shank as herein embodied;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of said outer end portion of the shank and substantially at a one quarter turn with respect to Figure 4.

As particularly illustrated in Figure 1 my im- 59 proved terminal comprises two members A and B, said members being preferably formed of brass or kindred material having a coating of lead or the like to resist corrosion.

v The member A has connected therewith in a conventional manner an end portion of a cable C. The member A at its outer end is provided with an outwardly disposed fixed jaw 1, the inner or working face of which being provided thereacross with a groove 2 ot a diameter to effectlvely engage the periphery of a battery post P. This jaw 1 is preferably to one side of the transverse center of the body portion of the member A and the outer end of said body portion at the junction of the end face thereof with the working face of the jaw 1 has disposed thereacross an open groove 3 in cross section in excess of a semi-circle.

Snugly engaging within this open groove 3 is a bead 4 disposed transversely of one end portion of the member B whereby the member B is supported for swinging movement by the member A. This member B constitutes a second jaw coacting with the jaw 1 and the face of the jaw or member B opposed to the fixed jaw 1 of the member A is also provided transversely thereacross with a groove 5 also adapted to snugly engage the periphery of a battery post P. The jaw 1 and the member B outwardly of their grooves 2 and 5 respectively are provided in their outer faces with the transversely disposed grooves 6. One of these grooves 6 receives the intermediate or cross member 'I of a substantially U-shaped loop member L, the free extremities of 'the side members 8 of said loop member L being continued by inwardly disposed extensions 9. These extensions 9 enter from opposite sides of a block 10 an opening 11 extending entirely therethrough.

In other words, the extremities of this opening 11 serve as sockets to receive the extensions 9 whereby the loop member L is freely engaged with the block 10 so that the same have relative turning movement.

Threaded through the central portion of the block 10 and substantially at right angles to the opening 11 is an elongated shank 12, an extremity of which being adapted to engage within a second groove 6 as is particularly illustrated in Figure 1. This shank 12 outwardly of the block 10 is continued by an elongated and anguiarly related lever arm 14.

With the battery post positioned between the member B and the jaw 1 of the member A, the intermediate or cross member 7 of the loop member L is engaged within the groove 6 of the member or jaw B and the outer or free extremity of the shank 12 is engaged within the groove 6 of the jaw 1. With the shank 12 disposed in advance of a center line as determined by the alignment of the grooves 6 the jaw 1 and member or i 1 jaw B will be suiliciently separated to allow the desired placement of the terminal upon the post P. Upon swinging the shank 12 inwardly of the jaw 1, which can be conveniently done by proper manipulation of the lever arm 14, the resultant action of the loop member L as it passes the center line hereinbefore identified will throw the jaw 1 and the member or jaw B into tight and eirective engagement with the post P and such locking action will be maintained until the shank 12 is swung backward to its first position.

By having the shank 12 threaded through the block 10 a ready adjustment of the shank 12 may be had with respect to the block 10 to assure the most eiiective action of the looking or holding means and particularly to compensate for any variance in diameter occurring in a post P, as for example as a result of corrosion.

In Figure 3 the terminal is constructed substantially the same as hereinbefore set forth with respect to Figures 1 and 2 except that the member A at its rear portion is provided with a transversely disposed socket 15 in-which is engaged an extremity of a cable 0. This Figure 3 particularly illustrates an embodiment of my invention in connection with what is recognized in the trade as an offset terminal or connector.

It is to be noted that the outer extremity of the shank 12 is oppositely beveled, as at a, to provide a relatively long straight edge b. This straight edge b when the clamp is in working position as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 provides an effective means for holding the shank from having turning movement in the groove 6. This advantageous result is further assured by the fact that the straight edge b has a tendency to slightly penetrate the conventional lead coating on the member A.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a cable terminal constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of r the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:' 1

1. A terminal comprising two members, said members having coacting means whereby one is supported by the other for swinging movement, said members coacting to provide opposed jaws to receive a battery post therebetween, a block, a loop member carried by said block and engaging one of the members, said block and loop member having relative swinging movement, and a shank threaded through the block for contact with the second member, said loop member, block and shank providing means for holding the jaws in clamping engagement with the post.

2. A terminal comprising two members, said members having coacting means whereby one is supported by the other for swinging movement. said members coacting to provide opposed jaws to receive a battery post therebetween, a block, a loop member carried by said block and engaging one of the members, and a shank engaged through the block for contact with the second member, said loop member, block and shank providing means for holding the jaws in clamping engagement with the post, the block and loop member having coacting means whereby the same are free for relative swinging movement.

ALONZO H. COOK. 

